Eamon Ryan
Question:252 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the role he has had in the ongoing negotiations in An Post with regard to the future development of the company. [19379/04]
View answerTuesday, 29 June 2004
Questions (254)
Written answers
As Minister with responsibility for An Post, I have taken a significant interest in the company, especially since the scale of the financial difficulties became apparent. The financial difficulties being experienced by An Post are the outward manifestation of long-standing and deep-seated structural problems within the company.
The board of An Post submitted a recovery strategy to me last September. This strategy sets out a road map to return the company to profitability by 2005 and the way forward is the agreement and implementation of the recovery strategy. I outlined this view to the board of the company when I met it last September and reiterated it to company management since then. In addition, my officials meet An Post management on a monthly basis and formal reporting structures have been established.
While my Department will continue to assist in any way possible the necessary restructuring, the agreement and implementation of the recovery strategy is primarily a matter for the board and management of An Post and the trade unions, and in this regard negotiations are ongoing between management and unions under the auspices of the LRC.